Meter-testing apparatus.



F. G. SHEPABD & J. T. LUCAS. METEE TESTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED FBBJZ, 1912.

Patented J an. 7, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Lgrl,

F. C. SHBPARD @L J. T. LUCAS.

METER TESTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED IEB.12,1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

l TE STATES PATEN T OFFICE.

FREDRICK C. SHEPARD AND JOHN THOMAS LUCAS, 0F MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

METEBFTESTING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. '7, 1913.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that we, FREDRICK C. SHEPARD and JOHN THOMAS LUCAS, of Minneapolis, Hennepin county, Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful mprovements in Meter-Testing Apparatus, of which the Jfollowing is a specication.

In testing gas meters it has been customary to apply air under pressure, and t-hen partially or wholly submerge the meter in water to determine whether there is a leak in the meter or in any part ot' the meter mechanism. The means for carrying out this test have been crude and imperfect, requiring considerable time and labor and adding quite materially tothe expense-ot the meter department.

The object of our present invention is to provide an apparatus by means of which a meter can be easily and quickly tested.

A further object is to provide an apparatus of sim le, durable construction and one which will be thoroughly edective for meter-testing purposes.

The invention consists generally in va- ,rious constructions and combinations, all as hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a front elevation, partially in section, ofv a meter testing apparatus embodying our invention, Eig. 2 is a vertical sectional View on the line www of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view on the line y--y of Fig. 1,- Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view, showing the device for connecting the air supply with the `meter, Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line z-f-z of Fig. 4.

In the drawing, 2 represents a tank having an open top adapted to contain a quantity of water.

.3 are upright rods, extending preferably to the bottom of the tank and secured thereto and connected at the top with one another by a cross bar 4. A meter carrier is vertically slidable on these rods and consists of a cross bar 5 having guides 6 at each end which are slidable on the rods 3. Between the cross bar 5 and the guides 6 we provide cross fittings 7 having bearings in which the cross bar 5 is adapted to rotate, and supporting vertically arranged rods 8 having nuts 9 at their upper ends. Between the nuts 9 arms 10 are provided, loosely itting on the rods 8 and adapted to slide on the rods 3 and held in a raised position by springs 11. These arms operate as clutches or clamps to support the meter carrier at any point on the rods 3 in which it may be set, the springs 'causing the arms to assume a position on the rods substantially as shown in Fig. 1. The rods 8 have flattened lower portions 12 on which a carrier platform 13 is vertically slidable, said platform having guides 14 which are slidable on the rods 3.

traps 15 are attached to the carrierplatformv and have a series of holes 16 therein, one above another, adapted to receive eccentric straps 17, the upper ends of which bear on eccentrics 18 mounted on the ends of the rod 5. The rods 8 have stops 19 thereonbef' tween the upper rounded portionsv and the lower attened portions and a cross head 22 'is vertically slidable on said`rounded portions and is normally seated against the stops 8 by the tension of springs 23 mounted on said rounded portions between the cross head and the cross fittings 7 An operating lever 24 is mounted'on the rod 51and when this lever is moved to rotate the said rod and its eccentrics the strain will be applied to the straps 17 to draw up the meter platform and the meter thereon will engage the cross head and raise it against the tension of the springs 23. The cross head is preferably provided with cross bars 25 and 26 arranged parallel, substantially, with one another and serving to brace and stiften the cross head and hold the meter ittings against lateral oscillation. The meter'27 is interposed between this cross head and vthe platform. Any suitable means may be provided for connecting the cross head with the meter to supply air thereto, but we prefer to use the apparatus substantially as shown in Figs.

4 and 5. y

28 represents sleeves arranged within cross fittings 29 and slidable on t-he rods 25 and 26, the cross ttings being connected by suitable nipples 30. Between the cross fittings and the sleeves 28 passages 31 will be formed through which the air may pass from the supply pipe to the meter.

32 and 33 represent cups connected to the cross head fittings and'having linings 34 of yieldin material to form airtight joints with t e meter connections, as indicated plainly in Fig. 1.

Une of the fittings 29 has a connection 35 to which an air hose 36 may be attached, said connection having a valve 37 which controls the admission of air to the meter. This air hose may lead to a suitable source of air pressure, such as a tank or reservoir, or where a plant is not equipped with an air pressure system, we may connect the hose 36 with a pipe 38 leading to a `handpump 39, a gage 40 being provided in connection with the pipe 38 to indicate the, air pressure.

One of the fittings of the cross vbars 25 and Q6 is adapted to slide lengthwise thereon to adapt `the cross head to meters of different sizes,'and we prefer also to equip the cup 33 with a valve cock 41 by means of which the air pressure may be relieved to equalize the pressure, or in case there is danger ofrupturing the meter bellows, or when it is deslred to pass the air through the meter to operate the indicators and ascertain if the meter is registering properly.

In usin the apparatus, the meter to be tested is placed on the platform 13,the fittings-of thecross head secured to the meter, and the carrier moved down until the meter is vpartially or wholly submerged. It will be understood that the lower portion of the meter mayfirst be submerged and then, when the air is turned on, if there is a leak in the'bottoin of the meter it will be instantly apparent by the bubbles rising to the top of the water. The meter may then be forced down gradually until it is entirely submerged, and the point-where the bubbles, if any, rise, will indicate the location of the leak. Only one movement of the lever 24 is necessary to lockdthe meter and the return movement ofthe lever releases it,consequently no time is lost in securing up ttings or making adjstments'by means of wrenches, as is usually done in the meter testing operation.

We-claim as our invention :f-

1. The combination, with' a tank having an open top and adapted to contain a supply of water, of a vertically movablevmeter carrier, guides therefor, iuid pressure connections for attachment to the meter, the downward movement of said carrier submerging the meter in the waterl in said tank and means for locking said carrier in its submerged position.

2. The combination, with a tank having an open top and adapted to 'contain a supply of water, of 'av vertically slidable meter carrier and guides therefor, fluid pressure connections for attachment to a meter, said carrier being moved down by pressure of the hands'into said tank and a locking device for holding said carrier and the meter thereon in a. submerged position lin said tank.

3. The combination, with a tank having an open top, of ameter carrier vertically slidable therein and including al platform, a cross head between which and saidplatform the meter is placed,.said cross head having meter `connections and a connection with a source of fluid pressure supply, said connections being adjustable to adapt them Vto meters of different width.

4. The combination, with a tank having an open top and adapted to contain a supply of water, of a meter carrier slidable in said tank and including a relatively movable meter platform and cross head between which the meter -to be tested is placed, said cross head having means for connection with a meter and a connection with a iuid pressure supply, and an eccentric mechanism for clamping said cross head connections on the meter.

5. A meter testing apparatus comprising a carrier having across head, fittings mounted on said cross head, one of said iittings having a connection with a source of fluid pressure supply, the other fitting having a valve-cock, whereby the iiuid under pressure in the meter may be relieved or allowed to flow through the meter to test the meter indicators. i 6l The combination, with a tank having an open top and adapted to contain a supply of jwater, of a meter carrier vertically slidable in vsaid tank and including a platform whereon the meter to be tested is placed, fluid pressure fittings having cups to receive the meter connections, one of sai fittings havingmeans for connection with a fluidpressure su ply, means for clamping said cupsl on vsai meter connections, the downward movement ofsaid carrier gradually submerging the meter within the water in said tank.

7. The combination, with a tank adapted to contain a supply of Water and having an open top, of a meter carrierslidable therein, said carrierhaving a platform to receive a meter, meter fittings having iuid pressure connections, means for clamping a meter on said carrier, guides for said carrier, and clutches for automatically locking said carrier on said guides at any point in its movement thereon. i

8. The combination, with a tank having an open top and adapted to contain a suppliy7 'of vwater,'of a meter carrier vertically s able, therein, means for clamping ameter on said carrier, fiuid pressure connections for said meter, and means for locking said carrier at any point of. its movement within said tank.

` 9. The combination, with a tank having an open top and adapted tocontain a supply of water, of a meter carrier, a cross head, guides for said carrier and cross head, littings mounted on said cross`head for connection with a meter and communicatin with a source of fluid pressure supply, and means for adjusting said carrier and cross head with respect to one another to adapt them for meters .of different height said means' including eccentrics and adjustable straps therefor.

l0. rThe combination, With a tank adapted to contain a quantit of Water, of a meter carrier vertically slldable therein, fittings having means for connection with a meter seated on said carrier and communicating fwith a source of fiuid pressure supply, a cross head Whereon said fittings are mounted and means for depressing said cross 'head to move said fittings into engagement With meter connections.

11. They combination, with a tank having an open top and adapted to contain a quan-i tity of Water,of a meter carrier slidable therein, fittings having means for connection with a meter and communicating with a source of fluid pressure supply, a rock shaft, eccentrics thereon, straps for said eccentrics connected With said carrier, the rocking of said shaft operating to tighten said fittings and clamp the meter on said carrier.

12. The combination, with a tank having an open top and adapted to contain a supply of Water, of a meter `carrier slidable therein, a cross head mounted on said carrier and having fittings for connection with a meter and communicating with a source of fluid pressure supply, a shaft mounted in said carrier, eccentrics mounted on said shaft, and straps adjustably connecting said eccentrics With said carrier, the rotation of said shaft operating to tighten said fittings on a meter and the adjustment of said straps adapting said carrier for meters of different height.

13. The combination, with a tank having an open top, and adapted to contain a quanan open top and adapted to contain a supply of Water, of a meter carrier vertically slidable therein, means for clamping a meter on said carrier, and fittings having means for engagement with said meter connections, one of said fittings having a'connection with a sourceof fluid pressure supply, the other fitting having a valve cock, whereby the fluid under pressure may be relieved or allowed to flow through the meter and test the' meter indicators.

In tvitness whereof, We have hereunto set our hands this 6f day of February 1912.

FREDRICK C. SHEPARD. JOHN THOMAS LUCAS.

Witnesses:

LniLIAN E. WI'LLIAMS, LILLIAN M. TRAF'roN. 

